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Aix, I think I may have found 1 of these spots the last week of season. I just found a pinch point in the flowing stream below their big impoundment. It didn't take long and I had a 33 lb female. Reset the same conibear and got a 46 lb female beaver the last day of season. I really didn't have time to do much investigating, but my strategy of putting a trap a bit downstream paid off.

This. The "Holy Grail" set in particular. Love that natural dive that has been used by generations of beaver.

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Wow, those are quite the dams Aix.

Aix, you sure you want to break that dam yet? Might need some drowning depth. Is that weed growin on the dam? Them bucked toothed rodents are high right now...laughing at ya. Danged hippie beaver from California. No wonder I don't see any round these parts. Lol.

Aix, when spring time comes, and the water will allow, young will move. Some go up, some go down. It continues that way and will get as crowded as the waterways will hold. If there's not enough water, they'll find a way to make more.

There are a few rules I try to live by after having educated my share.

1. No matter how much my mouth watered on setting that perfect spot that you KNOW a beaver will travel through.....it may not be the best thing to do. Yet. Sometimes it's impossible, but I want zero beaver to know what's going on until the sheer drop in numbers is the only thing raising a red flag.

I don't mind setting hard, but only if I can hide my catch underwater. At first.

Sometimes I know my approach will be slower up front but it pays off in the back end.

I'll drop a trap at every castor mound and crossover where I can drown and I won’t use even a drop of lure. If there's a long string of dams, I like to work the lower end first. Footholds are key here. You can put a bodygrip on a drowner for hiding purposes but it doesn't always work out.

Once I wear them out, I'll use 330s at the lower ends and maybe a dab of lure on the mounds as I go. I rarely pull a trap unless I have to.

Move on up closer to their fort and hit them the same way as above. In the end I like to use a little lure but will also make food lured sets depending on the circumstances.

It's really not possible to lay out a specific approach. There are times where there are ZERO existing castor mounds and I personally wouldn't introduce any. They're absent for a reason.

Once I'm to that point, I'll start breaking lower dams. I try not to change the environment or water levels on purpose at first. That's not to say I never have, because thousands of beaver bit the dust that way. I just approach situations like yours as if I know there are 20 beaver present and I only have 1 shot to get it right or the job just got extended by a week or a month or two.

Once the dams are broken, and there's no more takers to repair, plug the channels with 330s. That'll be the deepest water for travel. And I'll leave traps several days with no action. Sometimes a beaver will hole up for several days. Ill plug a 330 in the den entrance if I know I'm down that far.

I hope my thoughts and spelling were coherent. It's 0430. Lol.

Look at me rambling. Sorry. I get to gettin serious on them buck toothed freakos. Lol.

Sounds interesting Aix.

MC- Thanks for the comments about methods to avoid getting too aggressive right away at the risk of spooking other beaver.

Great post Aix and John and others....your weather and conditions probably have your beaver a week or two ahead of us Northerners...but let me throw this out.... you might have female beav with young ones already??? If not born already the female might be ready to go at anytime. This might slow down normal travel activities....Guys what do you think?
John it is uncanny the way we trappers think and operate. I mimic your style of trapping. I'm like a cat at beaver jobs anymore. Trying to keep noise and traffic down to a minimum....trying not to spook beaver. My problem is I'm usually trying to inform my oldest son on things to do and look for....instructions. And. ...I'm trapping the same properties for the last 25 yrs.
John can I call you some time and chat? Pm me thanks.

neat Aix,the state of PA. is about to become a giant beaver pond if they aren't careful.a lot of property owners will be getting a surprise when they find out it costs money to remove the critters.

Yep. The idea of a trapper working his tail off for the "privilege" of working his tail off is for the birds. People that think trappers should work for free should try that approach the next time they call a plumber or electrician over for a problem and see how it works out for them.

"But beavers are worth $400 each!" Just ask some property owners. I've been asked to pay an annual fee to trap some properties because I make "a fortune" on fur. Lol.

Agree with above comments but here's the rub. When rats are $11-12 each there are a few "trappers" who will pay to acces a property. Good news is when prices tank these guys disappear.

John a lot of truth to not setting up that perfect spot, yet. Still like to find it first if possible.
Lots of folks in this part of AR, damage not as severe as in the east, would rather pay a track-hoe operator $150 + per hour to dig out dams rather than pay a trapper to eliminate the problem.

I've been on a bunch of jobs where excavators and redneck marksmen were full time fixtures in the swamps. I had a guy tell me they had totalled 15k of expenditures to try and get the beavers gone.

That's amazing Aix. I think you found the beaver mecca. I wouldn't be surprised you pull an otter or 2 out of their as well. Keep an eye out for snakes. Hopefully the turtles don't plug your traps. I have a feeling this beaver job will keep you busy.

Looking forward to following this thread, and looking at pictures.

I like the pictures part.

Are you using drowning cables or rods?

somebody call the techs and get the "hide help" button fixed so he can put up pictures!!!!

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